China Medical Services: Hainan province opens pilot medical zone
A city in southern China is turning itself into a center for medical tourism and experimental treatment. Lecheng in Hainan province is China's first pilot medical zone. Lu Sirui has more.
The city of Lecheng, on Hainan's east coast, is growing into a regional hub for new medical treatments. Under an action plan approved last year, Chinese patients can be treated with imported medicine and equipment in this pilot zone before it's approved on the Chinese mainland, which can normally take years. So far, more than 100 new medical techniques have been used.
GU GANG Director, Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone Administration "Lecheng is about to achieve its goals of having all the world-advanced medicine, equipment and technologies, because almost all the International pharmaceutical companies are willing to provide Lecheng with their newest products. But Lecheng is still at its initial stage of development, we still need to improve, for example, the training and recruitment of doctors as well as the construction of infrastructure in the coming 2 to 3 years."
It's hoped that other pharmaceutical companies across the world will join in, because the data collected from Lecheng can help them enter the bigger Chinese medical sector.
U.S. healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson, has been selling its products in China for more than three decades. It has enacted various programs in Lecheng because of its unique status in China's medical field.
WANG JINHE Vice President, External Affairs and Market Access Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices China "This place is a window for people in China and outside of China. We should take advantage of this window. In the future, Johnson & Johnson's new technology, medicine, facilities, or even the whole industry can rely on this channel to enter China's market, which would shorten the whole process, and help treat people's diseases earlier."
So far, two hospitals are piloting their services in Lecheng. Eight other hospitals are expected to open to the public at the end of this year. Officials say attracting top talent and building a comprehensive medical system in Lecheng are vital to keeping the city vibrant.
Office of the Hainan Free Trade Port Working CommitteeNo. 69 Guoxing Avenue, Meilan District, Haikou City, Hainan Province, 570203, China
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